Self-Defense
Record Gun Sales and Diverse Ownership Mean Rocky Prospects for Restrictions
New gun owners are unlikely to embrace disarmament schemes from a government they distrust.
An Interesting Duty to Retreat (or Duty to Avoid Trouble?) Case, from a Century Ago
Self-defense against racist rioters.
Stand Your Ground (35 States) vs. Duty to Retreat (15 States)
But what exactly do these terms mean? [UPDATE: Sorry, had the numbers completely swapped in the original title; d'oh!]
The Politics of Guns Are Changing. Politicians Need To Catch Up.
Millions of new firearm owners who have lost faith in cops and government will be a tough audience for shopworn gun control schemes.
Was the L.A. District Attorney's Husband Acting in Self-Defense When He Threatened to Shoot Protesters on His Porch?
David Lacey faces three misdemeanor assault charges that hinge on whether he reasonably believed he and his wife were in danger.
Self-Defense When You're Violating the Law
You generally can't claim self-defense if you're a robber "defending" yourself against your victim's own self-defense—but do you also lose your self-defense rights if your only crime is illegally carrying a handgun?
The Year Gun Control Died
Gun opponents would leave predatory cops armed and their victims helpless.
"When There's an Unarmed Person Coming at Them with a Knife or Something, You Shoot Them in the Leg"
Advice from Vice-President Biden.
Are People Allowed to Use Deadly Force to Defend Property?
It depends, whether as to looting or other threats to property.
"Leave the Community Alone," from the Sheriff of Polk County (Florida)
"The people of Polk County like guns, they have guns."
Of Course "When the Looting Start, the Shooting Starts"
"Chang Lee gripped his fingers tighter around the gun and screamed at potential looters from the rooftop of the small strip mall where he stood."
This Case, Which Resulted in a 20-Year Prison Sentence, Supposedly Showed How Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' Law Lets People Get Away With Murder
Michael Drejka said he had to shoot Markeis McGlockton in self-defense. Jurors disagreed.
He Went for a Big Gulp; "He Ended up Shooting 2 Robbers, Killing 1"
"'There’s definitely an emotional cost to this,' he said. 'But I didn’t get the choice of leaving. I didn’t know what they were going to do.'"
Threatening with a Gun vs. Shooting at Someone
There are different legal standards for the two actions, the Michigan Court of Appeals correctly concludes (in the Siwatu-Salama Ra case).
Michigan Court of Appeals Has Reversed the Felony Assault Convictions of a Gun Owner Who Acted in Self-Defense
A then-pregnant Siwatu-Salama Ra was sentenced to two years in prison after using an unloaded gun to protect herself, her daughter, and her mom.
Did the Florida Supreme Court Just Give Cops More Leeway to Kill With Impunity?
The decision says a police officer, like any other Florida resident, has a right to a pretrial hearing on his self-defense claim.
Uncivil Disobedience
Jason Brennan argues that there is no moral distinction between civilians and agents of the state, even in the right to resist injustice.
When Nonviolence Isn't Enough
Does the right to self-defense apply against agents of the state?
Would More Gun Control Lead to More Crime? A Debate
Criminologist Gary Kleck debated Paul Helmke, the former president and CEO of the Brady Center, at the Soho Forum.
Pot Is No More Relevant to the Shooting of Philando Castile Than It Is to the Shooting of Botham Jean
An NRA spokesperson correctly says marijuana is not "germane" to Jean's death but keeps bringing it up when discussing Castile's.
Pot Prohibition Makes Self-Defense Illegal
The case against Krissy Noble shows how drug and gun laws conspire to deprive people of a fundamental right.
Michael Drejka, Who Supposedly Could Not Be Arrested for Killing Markeis McGlockton, Is Charged With Manslaughter
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri misrepresented Florida's self-defense law while passing the buck to State Attorney Bernie McCabe.
Bystander's Defensive Shooting of Titusville Shooter Has Nothing to Do with "Stand Your Ground"
As often happens, news reports misunderstand what "stand your ground" laws mean.
Trying to Clarify Why He Didn't Arrest Michael Drejka for Killing Markeis McGlockton, Sheriff Muddies Matters More
At first Bob Gualtieri said he lacked probable cause. Now he seems to be saying something more than probable cause is needed.
Legislators Say Sheriff Who Declined to Arrest Michael Drejka for Killing Markeis McGlockton Is Misrepresenting Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' Law
Bob Gualtieri erroneously claims the law's "largely subjective" standard lets Drejka off the hook.
'Stand Your Ground' Did Not Kill Markeis McGlockton
Michael Drejka's decision to shoot was inconsistent with Florida's self-defense law.
'Good Guy With a Gun,' or Too Good to Be True?
This Arizona state Senate candidate says he killed his mother in self-defense more than 50 years ago. But does his story really add up?
He Was Assaulted by Three Teens at Work, But He's Going to Prison for Defending Himself
Gaps in Connecticut's self-defense law lead to 18-month sentence.
Is the NRA Too Republican to Effectively Advocate for Gun Rights?
Self-defense rights need to be a cause in themselves, not just a totem of political tribal identity.
Duty to Retreat from One's Home, When Attacked by a Cohabitant?
Even states that generally impose a "duty to retreat" before using deadly self-defense exclude self-defense in the home -- but what if the self-defense is against a cohabitant?
The Duty to Retreat in the Founding Era
The stand your ground / duty to retreat debate has been around in the U.S. since the very beginning.
Constitutional Right to Install Bulletproof Glass?
Philadelphia's planned restrictions on bulletproof glass would violate the Pennsylvania Bill of Rights -- "All men ... have certain inherent and indefeasible rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, [and] of ... protecting property ...."
